Volkswagen, Audi’s parent company faced issues with their diesel cars that didn’t pass the emission test legitimately, but by using a rigged software program.

But, the new Audi A3 launched in the United States aims to gain some of the good will back from their customers.

The brand has refrained from entering the world of plug in hybrid vehicles for a long time until now. The A3 sportback is their official entry into the segment and they are probably going to stick tight to it because people now have a strong aversion towards diesel cars. While it may take time for plug-in hybrids to be actually emission free as they rely more on petrol than electricity, it is a laudable step towards creating greener vehicles for the future.

The new Audi A3 e-tron is powered by a 96-cell lithium ion battery which delivers 350 volt of power. If you are looking for best mileage, you should probably look elsewhere because the car offers a meager 16 to 17 miles at the maximum before it is forced to switch to rely on the traditional fuel system. The Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid model, on the other hand, is even worse as it runs just 11 miles, but the problem is the 2016 model is much higher at nearly 35 miles on a single charge.

Audi may never be able to compete with such with their plug-in A3, because there’s also Chevrolet’s Volt 2016 edition. The car offers a whopping 53 miles and is already on its way to compete with any future Tesla models that may have lower mileage. Pricing plays a crucial role for these vehicles because people find Prius and Volt extremely affordable when compared to a Tesla car. Audi faces a similar problem where they offer very little for a pricing that is almost the same or higher than their competitors.

The A3 is powered by a 1.4-liter engine which provides 150 horsepower while the battery powers up the 102 horsepower electric motor. With a combined delivery of 204 horsepower, it’s a great car to drive. It can easily touch 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 7.6 seconds. The vehicle is integrated with multiple modes including a battery friendly mode that conserves power for long trips. At a pricing of $37,900, it is a good green alternative to diesel cars, but it is hardly anywhere near the perfection level its competitors have reached.